A’s to put Kendall Graveman on DL, call up Daniel Mengden

NEW YORK — The A’s will place Kendall Graveman on the 10-day disabled list Monday, as expected, and the team’s Opening Night starter is likely to miss more time than he did while dealing with shoulder soreness last month.

Oakland will call up Daniel Mengden to replace him, as previously reported by The Chronicle. Mengden will start Monday at Cleveland.

Graveman is taking anti-inflammatory medication and resting. “He’s taking some meds now and is still sore,” manager Bob Melvinsaid. “He’s been through this once before, so we’re going to let this thing calm down before he even starts some strengthening. So this is probably going to be a little bit longer.”

Graveman was out April 15-26 with a similar issue. Reoccurring shoulder soreness can lead to DL stays of a month or two; Melvin said that Graveman won’t throw again until he feels he is able. “We want to make sure he’s not pushing through pain or anything,” Melvin said.

Mengden, 24, made a splash with the A’s when he first came up last year, allowing no more than three runs in his first four starts, but after putting up a 2.81 ERA in June, Mengden had a 9.00 ERA in five starts in July and was sent back to Triple-A Nashville. He returned in September and went 1-4 with an 8.10 ERA that month.

Photo: Chris Carlson, AP

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This is a 2017 photo of starting pitcher Daniel Mengden of the Oakland Athletics baseball team poses for a portrait. This image reflects the Athletics active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, when this image was taken. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) less

This is a 2017 photo of starting pitcher Daniel Mengden of the Oakland Athletics baseball team poses for a portrait. This image reflects the Athletics active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, when this ... more

Photo: Chris Carlson, AP

A’s to put Kendall Graveman on DL, call up Daniel Mengden

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He is 2-1 with a 2.21 ERA at Nashville in four appearances since returning from foot surgery.

“This is part of the depth we have here,” Melvin said. “He had to overcome some injury things and worked hard to get back where he is. ... His best body of work was probably early, whether the foot was a factor later, maybe. He’s got five pitches and he’s got some deception to what he does. When he’s on, he’s got a bright future.”

Graveman’s move means the A’s will have used the DL 16 times this season, putting them on pace to easily pass the franchise record of 27 set last year.

In other A’s injury news, reliever Sean Doolittle(shoulder) threw 20 pitches to hitters at extended spring training in Arizona. Melvin said the team will determine a plan for him in the next day or two.

Hitting first: Oakland’s leadoff men hit .162 with a .242 on-base percentage in the first 48 games, so for the first time in his career, Mark Canha(.250/.308 entering the day) was atop the order. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.